Today’s Podcast
Today’s Bible reading plan:
Read it in a year – Deuteronomy 26-28
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Luke 17:1-4
Jesus (to His disciples): You can’t stop temptations to do wrong from coming. But how tragic it will be for the person who becomes the source of the temptation! It would be better if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
So each of you needs to be careful. If your brother sins against you, confront him about it, and if he has a change of mind and heart, then forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times in a single day, if he turns back to you each time and says he’s sorry and will change, you must forgive him.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
These can be really hard words for us if we take them to heart. We have a responsibility to teach those that come behind us. We’re supposed to make the world a better place. Jesus told us to teach others the practices He taught us. But He tells us in this discourse that if we cause others to fall because of following our example, it would be better if we were to drown in the sea. Those are pretty harsh words, but Jesus usually meant what He said.
If I’m the source of temptation for someone, then I must answer for not only my wrongs, but the temptations that led my brother astray as well. Does that seem fair? It doesn’t matter whether we think so or not, Jesus made the declaration and He will be the One standing at the Judgment bar at the end of time. So we ought to pay attention to what He says.
So what does that mean for us? Does that mean that we can never have fun and must spend all our time at the church participating in religious activities so we don’t tempt our brothers. I don’t think so. The Pharisees spent most of their time at the temple and synagogues, but got blasted about their unfaithfulness to God. They thought they were doing things right, but these words were pointed directly at them and their hypocrisy. They lost their way. They got caught up in their religion instead of in their relationship with God and man. Don’t cause others to fall.
So we can lead others astray doing good things if we leave God out of the equation. If we don’t build those good deeds on the faith in Christ that drives them, they can lead to eternal death and destruction as surely as murder and theft and adultery will. Doing good is right and proper, but there must be something behind it. Even the most evil people do good sometimes. They just have the wrong motive behind their good deeds. They do good things for something in return, not to glorify God and share His love with others.
Does making sure we don’t tempt others mean we can never have fun? Absolutely not. Some of the most fun I’ve had is in a crowd of Christian friends. And without the alcohol and drugs or other mind altering paraphernalia, we remembered everything that happened the next day! I can’t say that about some of the non-Christian friends whose parties I attended. After a few too many drinks they had a hard time remembering what they said or did the night before and didn’t want to do anything but sleep the next day. I think Jesus had a great time with His friends. I think He enjoyed life immensely. So, no, we don’t have to be a perpetual sour puss to keep others from being tempted.
Does it mean we can never associate with other sinners? I don’t think so. That’s not what Jesus taught us. He ate with sinners all the time. That’s one of the things the scribes and Pharisees kept bringing up as proof He must not be the Son of God. He kept talking with people they would never talk to because of what they did. Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes, no less. But how else will they get God’s message unless we befriend sinners? That doesn’t mean we behave the same way they do, but we certainly should be their friend.
So what does Jesus mean when He tells us not to tempt others? How can we live life in such a way that we don’t lead others astray or become a stumbling block for them as they journey through life. I think it’s a simple answer but not always an easy path. The answer is live like Jesus. But the only way to do that is to let Him be in total control of your life. And that’s not always easy. He will have you going places and doing things that are against your nature. He will put you in situations where you are uncomfortable. He will put words in your mind that He wants you to share that you would rather not come out of your mouth because you don’t not what will happen when you speak them.
When you let Jesus rule your life and do what He asks you to do, you don’t need to worry about making anyone stumble. You don’t need to worry about being anyone else’s tempter. Just live like Jesus. Simple answer, tall order until He become the absolute Lord of you life. Try Him on for size. You’ll see for yourself.
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